Kling gets red-hot at the right time, wins the Sizzler Amateur

Nicky Kling’s back nine of the final round of the Sizzler Amateur was as hot as the triple digit temperatures that baked the golfers at Troon Mountain Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. While others wilted, it the Grand Canyon sophomore who made four back nine birdies to overcome a four-shot deficit and win the Sizzler Amateur which wrapped up play Tuesday afternoon.

Kling, a native of Paradise Valley who recently completed his freshman season at Grand Canyon University, turned in rounds of 70-68-71 to finish at 7-under 209, good for a two-stroke victory over four golfers, including Ben Lorenz of Oklahoma, James Leow of Arizona State who won the Southwestern Amateur last weekend, Carl Miltun of Missouri S&T and Justin Biwer.

Kling began the day four strokes off the pace of 36-hole leader Garrison Smith, who was sitting at 10-under after brilliant rounds of 68 and 66 on Monday. However, double bogeys on holes 12, 14 and 17 contributed to Smith’s demise as the New Mexico State player carded a final round 79 to finish seventh at 3-under 213.

Kling still trialed Miltun and Biwer by two strokes with five holes remaining, but birdies on 14 and 18 – along with some misfortune of the players in front of him on the leaderboard – proved to be the difference in securing the coveted title.

Nicky Kling of Paradise Valley is your 2021 Sizzler Amateur Champion!
70-68-71 (-7) ⛳️🔥⛳️🔥⛳️🔥
Full Results ↩️https://t.co/6cLyZhhKik pic.twitter.com/0yatUdiW6d

— SaguaroAmateurSeries (@SaguaroAmSeries) June 22, 2021

Miltun and Biwer were tied for the lead at 7-under through 13 holes, one stroke ahead of second round leader Smith while Lorenz and Kling were two back at 5-under. A double bogey on 15 and a bogey on 17 dashed Miltun’s chances.

Meanwhile, Biwer moved to the top of the leaderboard at 7-under par and nursing a one-stroke lead over Kling when the two golfers reached the 17th tee box. However, the San Diego native who attended Torrey Pines High School, made bogeys on his final two holes while Kling played flawlessly on the back nine with four birdies, including one on 18, for an inward nine of 32 and a final round of 71.

Wonderful hats for the players from @ImperialHats here at the Sizzler Amateur! pic.twitter.com/W9atAtAlr4

— SaguaroAmateurSeries (@SaguaroAmSeries) June 21, 2021